Water Resource Recovery Facility

The City of Mebane Water Resource Recovery Facility is dedicated to the protection of our environment and the prevention of water pollution. Water resource recovery is a multi-stage process to recover clean water by removing or reducing organic matter, solids, nutrients, disease-causing organisms, and other pollutants from the wastewater, or sewage, discharged from residences, businesses, and industries in our community. The recovered, clean water is then discharged into Moadams Creek.

The City of Mebane Water Resource Recovery Facility is designed to treat 2.5 million gallons per day (MGD). The treatment process consists of the following:

Influent Bar Screen

Grit Chamber

Activated Sludge Aeration Basin

Final Clarifiers

Cloth Media Disk Filters

Chlorine Contact Basin

Sodium Bisulfite & Re-aeration Basin

Rotary Drum Thickener

Aerobic Digesters

Wastewater Analysis

The City of Mebane Water Resource Recovery Facility Laboratory is committed to producing quality laboratory data. The results reported from this laboratory help ensure environmental protection. The water reclamation laboratory conducts tests for process control, operating efficiency, and regulatory requirements. The laboratory maintains State of North Carolina laboratory certification through compliance with all certification requirements.

Industrial Pretreatment

The term "Pretreatment" refers to the treatment an industrial discharger often must provide to its wastewater before it reaches the City’s Water Resource Recovery Facility.

The City's recovery facility uses both physical and biological removal treatment processes. Certain caustic and/or acidic substances can cause extensive and costly damages to piping, pumps, and motors. However, the most common damage is that caused by toxic wastes, which destroy the delicately balanced biological treatment systems. Such damage can lead to virtually untreated wastes being discharged into Moadams Creek.

The pretreatment program is designed to prevent industrial wastewater discharges from adversely affecting the City’s Water Resource Recovery Facility operations and/or its workers. The City of Mebane has both legal and moral obligations to assure that its wastewater is properly treated and that the resulting biosolids and effluent are safe for disposal or reuse. The health and economic welfare of the community are of the utmost importance to us. For this reason, the City of Mebane's Industrial Pretreatment Program is committed to protecting your water resources.

Fats, Oils, & Greases (FOG)

An easy and important way we can have an impact on the environment is by properly disposing of fats, oil and grease, also known as FOG. FOG causes sewer blockages, leading to spills and overflows that are hazardous to our health; can result in damage to our homes; pollute our local waterways and groundwater; and harm fish and wildlife habitats. The good news is, everyone has the power to easily prevent damage from FOG, contributing to a better quality of life here in Mebane.

What is FOG?

FOG includes animal fats, vegetable fats, and oils used to cook and prepare food. FOG is a solid or viscous substance, which will ultimately create an obstruction in the sewer system if not properly disposed. Restaurants deal with larger volumes of FOG than homeowners and renters, but we all need to do our part.

A byproduct of cooking, FOG comes from meat, fats, lard, oil, shortening, butter, margarine, food scraps, sauces, and dairy products. When washed down the drain, FOG sticks to the insides of sewer pipes. Over time, FOG can build up, block entire pipes, and lead to serious problems.

How should FOG be handled at home?

Many people think home garbage disposals keep grease out of the plumbing system—that is not true. Many detergents claim to dissolve grease, but they simply pass it down the sewer line, causing problems elsewhere. To dispose of FOG properly, follow these simple steps:

Never pour FOG into your sink or toilet

Pour FOG into a can—a coffee can works well

Place a lid over the top

Store it to be reused until full

When the can is full, throw it in the trash

When there is FOG residue in a pan or on a dish, wipe it with a paper towel before washing and throw that towel in the trash

Also, place a strainer in the kitchen sink drain to catch food scraps and other solids, then empty the strainer into the trash